1. Orange and black butterfl
 ies

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8 letters)

2. Backyard songbird

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters)

3. Gardening chore

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters)

4. The season of ___

 _ _ _ _ _ _ (6 letters)

5. Tiny nectar-sipping bird

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (11 letters)

6. Yellow fl
 owering weed

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (9 letters)

Word Games

Each word ends with the fi
 rst letter of the next word. 
All the words relate to spring. Can you fi
 gure them out?

JUST FOR FUN

What I Meant Was …

Sy Manello Editorial Assistant
W

e are always encouraged 
to say what we mean. That 
is good advice except that 
in English there are many expressions 
that are not meant to be taken literally 
— called idioms. Most are not troubling 
to us but think of someone trying to 
understand them when our language is 
not theirs.
I’ve narrowed my examples to dogs, 
food and the body. I know my faithful 
readers will come up with many of their 
own and I applaud them for that.
Trying to make a good impression? 
Then you might put on a dog and pony 
show. If someone tries to outdo you, 
then you quickly learn that this is a dog-
eat-dog world. It may even cause you 
two to fight like cats and dogs.
If you do not want to make trouble, 
you may be advised to let sleeping 
dogs lie; otherwise, you may find your-
self in the doghouse. Those who cannot 
learn that lesson just prove that you 
can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
You, of course, are not in that catego-
ry; you are alert and thoughtful and just 

really great. (Yes, I am trying to butter 
you up!) I might even mention that you 
seem to be a smart cookie.
On the other hand, you might note 
that I am full of beans, which will 
then leave me with egg on my face. 
However, rather than egg you on, I 
shall remain as cool as a cucumber and 
know that I have bigger fish to fry.
Excited to start a new project? Well 
then, just go bananas! Parents would 
not fault you for anything since you are 
the apple of their eyes. You need not 
walk on eggshells around them. 
Never would they admit that you 
failed to cut the mustard.
When I have something to share, 
I will encourage you to lend me an 
ear, ask you to remain all ears and 
even give me a hand. If I need to 
pick your brain, I would ask that you 
not act as though the cat got your 
tongue.
Always keep your eyes peeled for 
those who would take advantage of 
you. Do not wear your heart on your 
sleeve or fall prey to every heartwarm-

ing story. Know that many folks have 
skeletons in their closets and would 
sweat bullets if you call them on some-
thing they say.
Well, I hope that I have given you 
some food for thought, but I will not dog 
you about it if idioms are not your cup 
of tea. 

See answers in 
next week’s issue. 
For answers to
the March 28 
puzzle,

see page
42.

58 | APRIL 4 • 2024 

